Superior Yield Strength and High‐Tensile‐Toughness Matching of Medium‐Mn Steel with Gradient Structure Developed by Cyclic Torsion

Abstract

A multiphase‐gradient‐structured medium‐Mn steel with dislocation/stacking fault (SF) density gradient, austenite fraction gradient, and grain size gradient is designed and fabricated by cyclic torsion. It exhibits higher yield strength (YS) (942 MPa), ultimate tensile strength (1295 MPa), and tensile toughness (290 mJ mm−3) than its homogeneous counterpart (672, 1273 MPa, and 278 mJ mm−3, respectively). High‐density‐interlaced SFs are generated at the surface region because of the change in strain path and stress state during cyclic torsion. These massive interactive SFs promote the persistent martensite transformation of the retained austenite in the surface region within the entire uniform strain range. Therefore, in addition to the central layer, the surface region in the gradient structures provides strong strain hardening. Moreover, the continuous martensite transformation in the surface region allows the gradient structure to be retained even after tensile failure, which is beneficial for improving the heterogeneous‐deformation‐induced (HDI) hardening of the gradient‐structured sample during tensile deformation. Thus, the combination of active and persistent transformation‐induced plasticity effect and HDI hardening contributes to its excellent tensile toughness and ductility. Quantitative analysis indicates that HDI strengthening and dislocation strengthening play a dominant role in the sample's ultrahigh YS.